ZAMBERLIN RESIGNS AS CENTRAL WASHINGTON HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Wildcats' 10-Year Mentor Leaving to Accept Similar Post at Idaho State University

ELLENSBURG - John Zamberlin, who has spent the past 10 seasons as head football coach at Central Washington University, has announced his resignation from that post on Friday to accept the head coaching position at NCAA Football Championship Subdivision member Idaho State University.

"We are sorry to be losing a coach of John's talents," said CWU director of athletics Jack Bishop. "We wish him well and I think it's a great opportunity for him to continue with his coaching career at Idaho State University. He has left the program in great shape and we hope to be able to continue the success that we have enjoyed during John's tenure at Central for a long time to come."

Zamberlin, 50, posted a 63-41 record in 10 seasons at Central Washington. Included among that record is a 38-16 mark over the past five seasons, which included three Great Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards and the school's first-ever NCAA Division II postseason berth in 2002. The Wildcats' record over the past five years is the best among four-year institutions in the state of Washington, regardless of national affiliation.

"It is a glad and a sad time," Zamberlin said of his decision to leave CWU for the Pocatello, Idaho, school. "I have made great friends and memories at Central within the program and the university. There are great people there and within the community, but this was a time in my life when I was presented with an opportunity that seemed to be a good fit and I decided to go with it.

"It wasn't an easy decision because we have worked hard (as a coaching staff) to build the program at Central. That is part of what made it difficult. I will never stop being a Wildcat and I intend to continue to follow the program and hope for its continued success down the road."

By accepting the head coaching position at Idaho State, Zamberlin will make a return to the FCS (formerly Division I-AA level) where he had spent nine years as an assistant at three different schools: Massachusetts (1987-90), Eastern Washington (1992-94), and Richmond (1995-96).

Although the position at CWU was his first collegiate head coaching stint, he proceeded to guide the Wildcats to the NAIA postseason in his second year at the school (1998) - the first of two playoff appearances during his tenure. With 63 coaching victories, Zamberlin leaves Ellensburg as the second-winningest coach in the program's illustrious 91-year football history, trailing only 20-year Wildcat head coach Tom Parry (95 wins).

In addition, Zamberlin and the Wildcats had 78 first team all-conference selections in 10 seasons. Three of his players were named Associated Press Little All-Americans, and CWU had a total of five NCAA Division II first team All-American selections over the course of Zamberlin's tenure as head coach.

A search for Zamberlin's replacement will begin immediately.

NOTE: A press conference featuring both Zamberlin and Bishop is scheduled to be held in the Physical Education Building on the Central Washington University campus on Saturday morning, Dec. 16, at 10:30 a.m.

Idaho State University press release